Re’sili’ence. I love this photo for its contrasting element. Red-hot chili peppers, natively known as “siling lauyo” is a staple among Filipino dining tales. (Nikon3100.f5/6.ISO400.1/2sec.)

Re-sili-ence. Every year, when the “ber” months approach, supplies in the country, big or small, no matter what kind or type, their costs continue to change.

The siling labuyo, this small, but loved-by-all commodity shook every pinoy foodie’s attention by the hike in its price.

While inflation causes heightened concerns among Filipinos, there are a lot of factors which affect increase among prices. The Philippines is vulnerable to threats caused by Economic, political, social, and natural disturbances like weather and other disasters.

There is a great call for resilience among the people. One of the suggested innovation every household can do is the planting of mini vegetation or “plant on pots” or plant boxes in the people’s backyard.

The real concerns which flood Filipino consciousness is that planting is only realized among farming communities. People in the urban areas find it hard to visualize this practice especially in houses which mostly built with no vegetative space or soils around their area.

More than the ways on how-to’s in solving problems within different aspects in the community, being “innovative” is one attitude common among Filipinos of every generation that has to be revived and relived. Once every pinoy get to realize her/his true value and capability, true resilience would be a reality and not just a projection, propaganda or policy.

Hope is not only seen on canvas of rainbows and green leaves and clear skies.

There is hope found waiting in the presence of the rain. Hope is when we halt colorful words, and listen to silence. A whisper of the wind is enough for the day.

When each soul does not need a word to speak, and every inch of an unsettled breath is enough to tell, “I’ll be closer, it will be fine, even not today, I know someday…” hope comes to life and reality is better than a picture or a poetry.

The face of calamity patiently waits in the presence of torrents and thunders; drought and death; necessities and uncertainties.

Manang “Victoria” (right side), not her real name, is one of the evacuees after Ompong swept their properties in Itogon, Benguet. More than 100 families found shelter in Pacalso Elementary School (source: AMPHS volunteers). Though each person in the evacuation site holds many different background and personal stories, she represents those who are like her, who will leave the center and will find another home outside Itogon. The Itogon and Benguet Province Local Government Unit has ordered that the standard number of days for evacuation centers is 5-7 days maximum.

The barangays or communities which were impaired by the landslide is still too dangerous to welcome back people who once and always lived there. The members and the families, including “Manang Victoria”, of Ucab, Balatoc and other isolated areas in Itogon, and then Benguet, will have to find home among relatives, or other dwelling places in near and even farther region. Knowing someday, Manang Victoria hopes that she’ll be able to go back to the place she always calls her “home.”